How neighbourhood apps like Omni, NearCircles are now finding innovative use cases

Over the past year, startups across India have launched their versions of apps that allow people to connect with those around themPriyanka Sangani | ET Bureau | Updated: August 16, 2016, 11:47 IST

TTK Blood Bank in Bengaluru normally manages to collect enough blood through corporate drives. However, with the rains and the spike in dengue cases, it needs more platelets, which have to be collected through a different and fairly lengthy process.

“With the long travel times in Bengaluru and the time taken for apheresis, we don’t always have enough,” said Dr Latha Jagannathan, managing trustee, TTK Blood Bank. Apheresis is a kind of blood donation where donors provide only those components that are needed by patients that day instead of giving a pint of whole blood.

This year, though, things have been easier. The blood bank has been reaching out to people using Omni, a neighbourhood connect app, and has received a decent response in the past month.

“We wanted to create something that could mimic a loudspeaker announcement in the neighbourhood. The app also has an emergency help button, which would notify people within a 200-metre radius in case of a crisis, which people have used in case of late-night vehicle breakdowns,” said Jackson Fernandez, CEO of Omni.

Over the past year, startups across India have launched their versions of apps that allow people to connect with those around them. Most of these apps started out with the aim of linking people looking for running buddies in the neighbourhood or car repair shops or dentists.

While recommendations are a popular category on most of these apps, people are finding some unique uses for them. In New Delhi, Neargroup director Prashant Pitti said he often comes across posts by techies who are looking for a business partner to start a new venture.

“People have started renting items using Neargroup – a few days ago, someone posted a picture of a Rs 80,000 sherwani that he was willing to rent out for Rs 2,000. Also, a lot of ladies have created their own groups where they are selling ethnic wear,” he said.

People prefer this over the usual chat platforms because the message goes out to those within a certain geographic radius. For ecommerce ventures, such an app means a seller could pretty much walk down to a buyer’s house to make a delivery.

In most cases, the platform was created based on a need felt by its founder to build connections in the neighbourhood. Pitti was looking for a running buddy to remain motivated and not skip his daily runs. Suresh Mylavarapu, founder of Nearcircles, said that when he moved to Singapore from the UK, he needed help integrating into his new neighbourhood.

“Most tools are built to connect with people we already know, but there was no community-focused network,” he said. That was the genesis for Nearcircles, which, after Singapore, launched operations in Mumbai at the start of the year and is currently running some pilot projects with the local municipal corporations.

For local bodies, the apps can be a powerful way to connect with the people, not only to disseminate information, but also to address concerns. Omni is running a similar pilot with a corporator in Bengaluru.

However, finding goods and services close by will always remain the mainstay for such apps. Later this month, Pune-headquartered Khojpal will be rolling out a feature that enables people to search for and book an ambulance. The platform is focused on hyperlocal search and discovery, whether for people, places or information and founder Suhas Patil is working on adding more functionalities to it.

“Next on the agenda is strengthening the car pool feature, aimed specifically at people driving to work in the same area, as well as introducing a system whereby handymen and domestic workers can log in through an SMS and advertise their services,” he said